Last support



Feb. 4, 1964 J. 5. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3,120,014

LAST SUPPORT Original Filed May 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 29'-' Jacob S. Kombonan BY Henry v. o. Ben/(en flrwbp ATTY Feb. 4, 1964 J. s. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3,120,014

' LAST SUPPORT Original Filed May 2. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 4, 1964 LAST SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 2, 1961 w fi A u- 4 7 P 2 u II I I I I .I u 3 l I I I I I ilUlI I I I l I I 1 W w W Ifi 4 u m. a a m I. o M I I I 4 u IIIIIIII i? J I I I Feb. 4, 1964 J. 8. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3,120,014

LAST SUPPORT Original Filed May 2. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,120,014 LAST SUPPORT Jacob S. Kamborian, 133 Forest Ave., West Newton, Mass, and Henry v. d. Benken, West Roxbnry, Mesa; said Benhen assignor to said Kamborian Originai application May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 167,156. Divided and this application July 10, 1962, Ser. No.

3 Claims. (Cl. 12-126) This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 107,156, filed May 2, 1961.

The parent application relates to a shoe lasting machine for stretching a shoe upper tightly on a last and heel seat lasting the shoe by wiping the heel of the upper against a shoe insole located on the bottom of the last. During the machine cycle, the last having the upper and insole mounted thereon is clamped between a last support and a hold-down foot. The last support is mounted on a post, and the last is supported on the last support. At an appropriate time in the machine cycle, the post is raised to bring the insole to bear against the hold down foot to thereby effect the clamping action.

The principal object of the instant application is to provide an improved last support which insures a maximum hearing by the surface of the last support against the last and the surface of the hold-down foot against the insole during the aforesaid clamping action. This is performed by providing a last pin holder at the upper end of the post that has a last pin extending upwardly thereof and shiftably mounting the last support on the last pin holder with the last support having a hole that is oversize with respect to the last pin. The last pin is adapted to enter the conventional last pin hole in the last, and the shiftable mounting permits the last support to accommodate itself to the last during the clamping of the last and insole between the last support and hold-down foot.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the last supporting post;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a detail of the last support;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a showing of the shoe and last after they have been clamped between the last support and the holddown foot; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevation in section showing the heel portion of the shoe and last at the completion of the machine cycle.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, the machine comprises a frame It? having an inclined plate 12. An air actuated motor 14, mounted on the plate 12, has a piston rod 16 extending upwardly therefrom that is guided for heightwise movement in a guide bearing 18 secured to the frame. A post 2% is pivotaily secured to the piston rod 16 by a pivot 22. A rod 24 (FIGURES 3 and 4) is received in a socket in the upper end of the post 29. The rod 24 has a collar 26 slidable thereon, and means that includes a shaft 28 threaded into the collar 26 is provided to adjustably position the collar on the rod. A sleeve 30 is slidably mounted on the rod 2.4 and rests on the collar 26. A swivel block 32 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 30 for swinging movement about the axis of the sleeve with the bottom of the block 32 resting on the collar 26, and a snap ring 34 in the sleeve 36 engaging the top of the block 32.

A last pin holder 36 (FIGURES 3 and 4) or 38 (FIG- URES 5 and 6) is mounted at the upper end of the rod 24. The last pin holder has a prong 40 depending therel, 3 and 4).

from that is seated in a hollow at the upper end of the rod 24 and is connected thereto by a bolt 42. A last pin 44 is fastened in an axial hole 46 in the last pin holder and projects upwardly thereof. The last pin holder 36 or 3?, has a concave groove 48 in its upper surface that receives a last supporting plate 50, the plate 50 having a convex lower surface complemental to the surface of the groove 48, a flat upper surface 52 and a hole 54 through which the last pin 44 extends. The plate 50 is of narrower width than the groove 48 and the hole 54 has a larger diameter than the pin 44 for a purpose that will be explained below.

Parallel bars 56 are connected to and extend forwardly of the swivel block 32. An upper tensioning unit 58, which is described more fully in the parent application, is mounted on the bars 56. The upper tensioning unit includes a toe rest roller 60 (FIGURE 2), a front pincers 62 and two side pincers 64. Means are provided to move the unit 5% forwardly of the bars 56 and to raise the pincers 62 and 64 upwardly of the bars 56.

The post 2b is pivotally connected to the legs 66 of a forked pitrnan 68 that straddles the post (see FIGURES An air operated motor 76 (FIGURE 1) is mounted in the frame 1th. The piston rod 72 of the motor 7 ti is operatively connected to the post 29 through means that includes a rack 74, a crank 76 and the pitman 68 whereby actuation of the motor 70 causes swinging movement of the post 26 about the pivot 22.

A heel seat lasting unit '78 is mounted in the frame 10 rearwardly of the upper tensioning unit 58. The unit 78 includes a U-shaped heel clamping pad 8t) and a pair of wipers 82 positioned above the pad St A hold-down unit 84 is mounted on a frame cover 86 above the heel seat lasting unit 78, and includes a holddown foot 87 mounted for heightwise movement in response to the actuation of an air operated motor 88. The means for operating the heel seat lasting unit and the hold-down unit is disclosed in greater detail in the aforementioned parent application.

Although the apparatus of the instant invention can be used generally in supporting a last during a lasting operation, it has particular utility in carrying out the method disclosed in application Serial No. 80,919, filed January 5, 1961. In the referred to method, a flaccid counter coated on both of its surfaces with adhesive is inserted in a pocket formed between an upper and a liner at the heel end of the upper, the upper is draped about the last, tensioning forces are applied at the toe end of the upper to wrap the upper about the heel end of the last and initiate the molding of the counter to the shape of the last, the last is moved to a heel seat lasting position and forced upwardly against a hold-down, upward tensroning forces are applied at the toe end of the upper to assemble the upper on the last, a clamping force is applied at the heel of the last to maintain the upper stationary on the last and to complete the molding of the 7 counter to the shape of the last, and the margins of the upper and counter are wiped onto an insole located on the bottom of the last to thereby unite the lasted margin of the upper to the insole by adhesively bonding the counter to the upper and insole.

In setting up the machine for a particular size of last, the adjustments described in the parent application are performed. A last pin holder such as 36 or 38 having the appropriate heightwise dimension is inserted into the top of the rod 24. The heightwise dimension of the last pin holder is dependent on the heightwise dimension of the last.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, a last 90 is provided having an insole 92 mounted on its bottom and an upper 94 draped thereon. A liner R6 is secured to the heel of the upper to engage the heel of the last, and a counter $8 is located in the pocket formed between the upper and the liner. The last is placed bottom-up on the last supporting plate with the pin 44- entering the conventional last pin hole in the last. The toe portion of the upper and last is supported on the toe roller 60, the toe end of the upper margin is inserted between the jaws of the pincers 62, and the forepa'rt portions of the upper margin are inserted between the jaws of the side pincers 64. At this time, the upper end of the liner 96 is substantially level with the insole 92 and the upper margins of the counter 98 and upper 94 at the heel end of the last extend above the insole 92 as indicated in FIGURE 7.

The control system disclosed in the parent application is now actuated to cause the pincers 62 and 64 to grip the margin of the upper. This is followed by a forward movement of the upper tensioning unit 58, including the pincers 62 and 64, on the bars 56 to thereby horizontally stretch the upper in the direction of the toe of the last and cause a firm wrapping of the upper about the heel of the last and a tension force on the counter to start to mold it to the shape of the last. The motor is now actuated to swing the post 20 from its initial position remote from the heel seat lasting unit 78 and the hold-down unit 84 to a position adjacent to these units. In this position the post 20 is in alignment with the hold-down foot 37 but the insole 92 is below the bottom of the holddown foot. In addition, in this position, the shoe upper and last are not in engagement with the heel clamping pad 80.

T he motor 14 is now actuated to raise the post 20 and thus raise the last and shoe until the insole 92 bears against the hold-down foot 87. In this position, the shoe and last are clamped between the hold-down foot 87 and the last supporting plate it), as indicated in FIGURE 7, with the upwardly facing surface of the insole slightly below the top surface of the clamping pad and the bottom surface of the wipers 32. The aforementioned mounting of the plate 50 on the last pin holder 36 or 38 and the oversize opening in the plate permits the plate to rock in the concave groove 43 in directions transverse to the axis of the last pin 44 and shift transversely of the groove to provide a maximum bearing surface of the plate against the last and of the hold-down foot 87 against the insole 92 when the post 26- is moved upwardly to force the last and shoe against the hold-down foot 87.

The pincers 62 and 64 are now raised by mechanism described in the parent application to thereby apply an upward tension to the margin of the upper 94 at its toe and forepart portions to thereby stretch the upper tightly on the last and assemble it in proper position for the subsequent heel seat lasting operation. Since the last and shoe are clamped at this time between the foot 87 and the plate 50, upward movement of the pincers will not shift the last.

A motor (FIGURE 1) is now actuated to move the heel seat lasting unit 78 from its normal out-of-theway position to a position adjacent the shoe and last. This is followed by a forward and closing movement of the clamping pad 80 to cause the pad to firmly clamp the upper against the last and complete the molding of the counter 98 to the shape of the last. The wipers 82 are now actuated by a motor 102 (FIGURE 1) to move forwardly and inwardly to wipe or fold the margins of the upper 94 and counter 98 against the insole 92. The wiping pressure completes the rnol ing of the counter and causes the counter, through the adhesive on its surfaces, to bond the wiped-in margin of the upper to the insole.

During the movement of the wipers, the motor 38 is actuated to raise the hold-down foot 87 as indicated in FIGURE 8. The motor 14 now applies upward pressure by the last directly against the wipers to provide an overwiping and bedding pressure between the wipers and the wiper-in margin of the upper during the latter part of the wiper stroke and also after the termination of the wiper stroke.

This concludes the working phase of the machine cycle, and the control system is now actuated to return the parts to their original position in the manner described in the parent application.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A last support, for supporting a last having a shoe upper and insole thereon and for clamping the last and shoe against a hold-down, comprising: a last pin holder; a last pin anchored in the last pin holder and extending upwardly thereof; a last supporting plate; means mounting the last supporting plate on the last pin holder with the pin extending through the plate to permit shifting of the plate relative to the holder and the pin transversely of the axis of the pin; and a hole in the last supporting plate, that is oversize relative to the last pin, through which the last pin projects.

2. A last support, for supporting a last having a shoe upper and insole thereon and for clamping the last and shoe against a hold-down, comprising: a last pin holder; 21 last pin anchored in the last pin holder and extending upwardly thereof; a concave surface in the top of the last pin holder; a last supporting plate having a convex surface lying on said concave surface; and a hole in the last supporting plate, that is oversize relative to the last pin, through which the last pin extends.

3. A last support, for supporting a last having a shoe upper and insole thereon and for clamping the last and shoe against a hold-down, comprising: a last pin holder; a last pin anchored in the last pin holder and extending upwardly thereof; a concave groove in the top of the last pin holder; a last supporting plate having a convex bottom surface seated in said groove, the last supporting plate being narrower than the groove in which it is seated to provide clearance between the plate and the groove; and a hole in the last supporting plate, that is oversize relative to the last pin, through which the last pin extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,775 Bowen Nov. 17, 1914 2,974,335 Frampton Mar. 14, 1961 2,975,443 Makovski Mar. 21, 1961 

1. A LAST SUPPORT, FOR SUPPORTING A LAST HAVING A SHOE UPPER AND INSOLE THEREON AND FOR CLAMPING THE LAST AND SHOE AGAINST A HOLD-DOWN, COMPRISING: A LAST PIN HOLDER; A LAST PIN ANCHORED IN THE LAST PIN HOLDER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREOF; A LAST SUPPORTING PLATE; MEANS MOUNTING THE LAST SUPPORTING PLATE ON THE LAST PIN HOLDER WITH THE PIN EXTENDING THROUGH THE PLATE TO PERMIT SHIFTING OF THE PLATE RELATIVE TO THE HOLDER AND THE PIN TRANSVERSELY OF THE 